Happy homecoming: Base salutes returning heroes

There were plenty of flags and fanfare at Hanscom Air Force Base Friday afternoon as the base community celebrated the safe return of 90 deployed airmen from points across the globe.

By Ben Aaronson

There were plenty of flags and fanfare at Hanscom Air Force Base Friday afternoon as the base community celebrated the safe return of 90 deployed airmen from points across the globe.

Base leaders and members of the greater Hanscom community paid tribute to returning personnel, presenting 56 men and women, and one dog, with medals of honor at the semiannual Heroes’ Homecoming ceremony. But the greatest prize of all for most returning from deployment was the opportunity to hoist their children in the air, hug their husbands and wives, and be a family once again after months apart.

Col. Tom Schluckebier, commander of the 66th Air Base Wing, said the time away from family is the biggest hardship for men and women serving in the military.

“They may do different jobs in different places, but the separation from family is the one thing they all have in common. A lot of them have had to do multiple deployments at a young age - it takes a special kind of person to do that, but they are very special people,” Schluckebier said. “It’s very meaningful for us to have them back safe.”

The first Heroes’ Homecoming celebration was held on Jan. 19 as a way to recognize airmen who had returned from deployments within the previous six months. At the second ceremony, as in the first, radio host Michael Graham of 96.9 WTKK-FM served as master of ceremonies.

After the airmen had been escorted to the stage area by proud spouses and children waving miniature American flags, Graham called each airman by name to receive a medal and congratulations from a receiving line of base officials and visiting dignitaries. As they exited the stage to raucous applause, the airmen eagerly rejoined their families.

Senior Master Sgt. Woody Carter held his 4-year-old son Dreysean to his chest, while his wife, Lisa, put an arm around their 7-year-old daughter Cyerra. Carter recently returned from a seven-month deployment to Iraq, where he served as part of a police transition team charged with training the local Iraqi police forces. Carter said his units dealt with constant threats from roadside bombs and sniper attacks.

“It wasn’t quite as bad as Baghdad, but it wasn’t too far from it. Working with the Iraqi police was an experience. They want to do good and help their country, but they don’t have any policing skills,” Carter said.

Between the deployment and two months of training, Carter was away from his wife and four kids for a total of nine months. Carter said he was able to stay in touch with his family through e-mail and weekly phone calls, but it was still a difficult situation, especially for the children.

“It was tough. We have four kids and I work a full-time job. The younger ones know he’s gone, but they don’t really understand why,” Lisa Carter said. “It’s wonderful to have him back and to have the family together again.”

Capt. Kate Stowe also recently returned from Iraq, where she was stationed for about four and a half months. Stowe said the conditions in the Middle East were pretty extreme.

“It was in the 90s when we first got there and by the time we left, I was wearing thermals because it was so cold. We went through like a 70-degree temperature swing in the few months we were there,” Stowe said. “But the hardest part is being away from family, hands down.”

Despite the severe weather and the family separation, Stowe said she was glad for the experience and enjoyed her job. She said she didn’t feel she needed to be thanked for doing a job that she loves, but that it still feels good to know her efforts are appreciated.

“I don’t really need the thanks, honestly, but it makes me proud of what I’ve done,” Stowe said. “After all, this is who we went over there for. This is what we fought for.”

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